So if I want to Shoutcast over a CDN...

davidlowry · 3rd December 2013, 17:05

Background: I've been using a customised Amazon CloudFormation template to build a private web video streaming platform with reasonable success; and have been asked by a client to do similar for radio.

Requirements: 300-500 listeners at peak times to at most 4-5 radio streams.

I have a Shoutcast instance up and running on my own Linode and its causing virtually no load whatsoever (as I imagined) but without real-life testing I have no idea how that will scale. I imagine bandwidth/number of connections will be the first limiting factor, rather than CPU or memory?

NB: I believe the way RMTP works is the index file is always up to date (not cached) and it points to 8-10 chunked mp4 segments, meaning the CDN can work effectively.

So, the question: has anyone any experience of using a CDN like Amazon CloudFront to distribute the /.pls and its content?

My testing today implies that it might not be straightforward because the file referred to within the PLS playlist file is myserver.com:8000/play.aac and not a chunked or time critical reference.

SomaFM · 6th December 2013, 01:26

I don't know why you even need to bother with a CDN. We have no trouble getting 5000+ 128k listeners on a single Intel E3 class machine (8gb RAM) and a Gig E connection. A CDN *might* speed up your initial connection 50-100ms or so, but you're going to buffer for at least 200ms so who cares. You can put the PLS on cloudfront, but don't worry about the stream. Run it from a dedicated box on a fast pipe.

davidlowry · 6th December 2013, 14:55

Thanks for that. I got similar assurances from a Linode staffer that their VPS will only hit a soft limit at 2.5Mb/s outbound. Not too shabby! That should do me for now.

3rd December 2013, 17:05	#1
davidlowry Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 2	So if I want to Shoutcast over a CDN... Background: I've been using a customised Amazon CloudFormation template to build a private web video streaming platform with reasonable success; and have been asked by a client to do similar for radio. Requirements: 300-500 listeners at peak times to at most 4-5 radio streams. I have a Shoutcast instance up and running on my own Linode and its causing virtually no load whatsoever (as I imagined) but without real-life testing I have no idea how that will scale. I imagine bandwidth/number of connections will be the first limiting factor, rather than CPU or memory? NB: I believe the way RMTP works is the index file is always up to date (not cached) and it points to 8-10 chunked mp4 segments, meaning the CDN can work effectively. So, the question: has anyone any experience of using a CDN like Amazon CloudFront to distribute the /.pls and its content? My testing today implies that it might not be straightforward because the file referred to within the PLS playlist file is myserver.com:8000/play.aac and not a chunked or time critical reference.

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6th December 2013, 01:26	#2
SomaFM Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 83	I don't know why you even need to bother with a CDN. We have no trouble getting 5000+ 128k listeners on a single Intel E3 class machine (8gb RAM) and a Gig E connection. A CDN might speed up your initial connection 50-100ms or so, but you're going to buffer for at least 200ms so who cares. You can put the PLS on cloudfront, but don't worry about the stream. Run it from a dedicated box on a fast pipe.

6th December 2013, 14:55	#3
davidlowry Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 2	Thanks for that. I got similar assurances from a Linode staffer that their VPS will only hit a soft limit at 2.5Mb/s outbound. Not too shabby! That should do me for now.